01 - Pint Sized Terror Unleashed!

[bittydragon]

Who: Yamato Hotsuin and YOU!
Where: Taurus Ward at night
Summary: Yamato is more than a little disorientated
Warnings: A fire breathing dog. THE FIRE BREATHING DOG. Also Taurus ward I guess.

Yamato's brain felt like it was in the middle of a grand overload.

The bright neon lights, the bustle of people in all sorts of outlandish clothing moving from building to building in groups, the loud laughter and catcalls - it was so alien to Yamato, who had spent his years isolated in a quiet, out of the way mansion, that he found himself frozen in place, his head stiffly moving from side to side as he drank in the gaudy sight.

At least he had his faithful demon companion by his side. Cerberus was looming over him, more than twice his height, the beast's shoulders hunched in a tense way. Its body language clearly stated that it was prepared to lash out at anything that exhibited the slightest bit of threat, a low, muted growl rumbling in the back of its throat.

Yamato took an abrupt, cautious step forward, and Cerberus shadowed the movement. As... bewildering and confusing this was, he couldn't stand still all night. He...had to get to the bottom of this. A calm, detached observation of his surroundings, even if the lack of memory about his arrival here was disconcerting.

So. A child by his lonesome, dressed in a traditional yukata, with a Cerberus trailing after him... in the red light district during the busiest hour. Approach?

Comments

[bittydragon]

"Ten years-"

Yamato turned back to Aoi, and his blank expression had finally broken into what could only be called childish horror. Miyako was ten years older than him - well, that made sense, if she was supposedly the same age as this woman, but... it settled badly, now that he was actually processing it.

The Hotsuin were built on a hierarchy of ability and usefulness. Due to there being no more adult Hotsuin, Yamato was on top of the pyramid because of his promising ability and potential - but if Miyako was an adult here, then that meant that balance was upset, and Yamato would be shifted into a more submissive position, while Miyako adopted the leading one!

It wasn't really fair... it'd be one thing if his twin had bested him as a child, but for him to lose his place because Miyako was fortune enough to be here as an adult, than a child...! That was temporal cheating!

"...is she powerful?" Yamato asked, his tone beginning to creep into petulant.

[eyewillprotect]

It's a lot to take in, so she doesn't blame him in the slightest when he needs a moment to sort it all out. Really, she wouldn't be surprised if it took even longer for it to settle in. How else could you react upon finding out that your very own twin was no longer the same age as you?

What does surprise her in the end is his question. It's so unexpected, it takes her a bit to formulate an answer.

"She's... very capable of fighting, yes. We did have to battle demons together once." Although why that would be his first question, she cannot even fathom.

[bittydragon]

"Ugh." The amount of disgust Yamato managed to inject into that one noise was impressive. "I'd never live it down..."

He shook his head after that half-mutter, and reached up to rake his fingers through Cerberus's thick mane - more to soothe himself than the beast. He would just have to avoid his sister for as long as possible, until Yamato came to terms with this kind of unfair loss. He'd quickly regain his top position though - he was naturally stronger than Miyako as a child, and he'd be naturally stronger than her when he grew up. It was just a matter of... time...

"In any case, I'd like it if you won't tell her about me yet."

[eyewillprotect]

"Never live it down...?"

Had the twins always been so competitive...? She could understand being upset at no longer being the same age, but more than that, he seems to be unhappy that his sister might be... better than him.

"You're sure about this? You might have your own apartment, but I don't think it's such a good idea to live by yourself..." There's genuine concern in her voice. Leaving someone so young to fend for themselves just seems wrong.

[bittydragon]

Yamato's eyes narrowed slightly. "I have Cerberus for protection, and that is all I need. I'm self-sufficient enough to survive on my own."

Well, he would have to sort the issue out of supplies for food, but Yamato would cross that bridge when he reached it. He had spent the majority of his life alone anyway, only being shepherded to certain locations by his tutors once a blue moon.

[eyewillprotect]

"Even without a job? You could probably make it through one month, but to be honest, they don't give you enough money to last for much longer than that..." The fact that likely no one would hire him due to his age goes unsaid.

"Even traveling through this city could be dangerous if you aren't careful. You should really consider staying with someone old enough to take care of you."

[bittydragon]

There was an aggravated sigh. "I don't see how it is any of your business. You are a stranger."

Truthfully, Yamato was more than a little ignorant about how to live like a 'civilian'. Jobs? Bills? Groceries? Yamato was absolutely clueless about these. It didn't stop him from believing that he could survive well enough on his own - he wasn't a child, after all.

[eyewillprotect]

"I might be a stranger, but that doesn't mean I don't worry." This place is way too dangerous. What was Philemon thinking, bringing Yamato at such an age...?

"If it comes down to it... Please consider staying at my home for at least tonight." Leaving him all by himself in an apartment just doesn't sit right with her.

[bittydragon]

Yamato actually stared at her, flummoxed for a moment.

"...that was very bold," he said slowly, his tone more than a little wary. "I am not comfortable sleeping with a stranger, so I will have to refuse."

[eyewillprotect]

It's understandable that he wouldn't trust her. But still...

"My home is much larger than a single apartment, and we have food as well. For one day at least, you wouldn't need to worry about that. Please... It just isn't safe for you to be by yourself...!"

[bittydragon]

Was this woman for real?

Yamato wasn't sure how to handle this. He had never been faced with such an earnest, persistent person before, and he shifted awkwardly, his fingers tightening in Cerberus's mane. Why was she so adamant in 'helping' him, if that was her true intent, anyway. Yamato didn't understand.

"You're making me uncomfortable," he said bluntly, deciding to be frank in this situation. "Stop it."

[eyewillprotect]

"Eh--"

...Well, as he had said before, she is a complete stranger to him. Though her lips purse, she does settle back a little, lowering her head.

"...I'm sorry. I just... I don't want to see you get hurt here where I could have helped."

Her words are sincere - it would be difficult to forgive herself if she let such a young child be harmed because she hadn't taken extra care to make sure he would be alright.

[bittydragon]

"...your concern is admirable," he thinks, anyway, Yamato was treading into unknown social territory here, "But unnecessary."

Yamato stroked Cerberus's mane for a moment, his expression smoothing out into something blank. "If I need assistance, I will ask for it. Does that make you feel better?"

[eyewillprotect]

"I would like that."

It's... a small relief, at least. She half-wonders if she could stay in her old apartment for one night, if only to be able to get to him quickly in case something bad were to occur.

"That does remind me, though... You should have a COMP with you now, and you can use that to call me if you need to. Do you want me to teach you how to use it?"

[terminally_clever]

The very same.

[As expected of the scion of the Hotsuin family.]

It's more of an amalgam of the personality of the demon and my own. It is a part of my subconscious, after all.

Late to everything everrrrrrrrr

[demifemme]

Shura is at the door of the Penguin's Nest, being a bouncer as usual, when she spots the child and the Cerberus passing by. In the Vortex, she'd think it was Lucifer messing with her. In Hinoto-Ri, though...

"Hey!" she calls out as she walks away from the club, toward the child. "Are you lost?"

better late than never!

[bittydragon]

Yamato twitched at seeing someone calling out to him, and shifted closer to Cerberus as his eyes narrowed in suspicion. This... woman was... Yamato had to squint. No, not woman. Demon.

"Not enough to take your assistance," Yamato said coldly. Like he would let a demon lead him away.

ARGH I DID NOT GET THIS NOTIF

[bittydragon]

"Hm..." Yamato was giving Miyako a narrowed, contemplative look. "You've gotten comfortable here, haven't you?"

[bittydragon]

That is something I wish to ask - if it is part of your subconsciousness, yet is used in battle, what happens if it is damaged or destroyed?

<3

[demifemme]

Shura stops in her tracks and huffs, crossing her arms. "That's some big talk coming from a small child."

Shura no. It could be Lucifer.

[bittydragon]

Yamato's expression was like stone, and Cerberus growled softly at his side.

"Small child? Only in appearance," and technically aged, but Yamato liked to think that his maturity and intellect far exceeded that of any adult, let alone a child. "I'm not stupid enough to be led astray by a demon, so take your tricks elsewhere."

[demifemme]

"Tch. You must be an Seraph then, with your head that far up your ass. I was gonna tell you about the city, since you're obviously not from here, but you can get lost and eaten by a demon now for all I care."

[bittydragon]

Yamato just stared at the demon woman dully, one eyebrow raising slightly.

"Crude," he muttered.

[demifemme]

Shura shrugs. "I'm a demon. You said so yourself. Get used to it. Life ain't sunshine and roses, human. Your Cerberus might not be enough to protect you all over town."

[bittydragon]

There was a bit of a pause-

And then suddenly Yamato was smiling a little. His eyes were a little brighter as well, and he uttered a quiet laugh.

"Who is to say that Cerberus is my only form of protection?" he asked, "You're awfully riled up. Have I accidentally touched a nerve somewhere?"

You see, Shura, a little known fact about Yamato - if there is someone he can argue with... he'd enjoy it.